Y'all,
I worked on electrical connectors of all types for Bell Labs and for Sandia
National Labs before I retired in 2003. From my professional experience, I
want to recommend a Connector "Lubricant" which will protect clean contacts
from corrosion, both chemical corrosion and "fretting corrosion" which occurs
when vibration causes contacts to rub against each other on a microscopic scale
and to pull out small pieces of contact material which then corrode - usually
oxidize or sulfide - and then become non-conductive cinders that block the
contacts open. This occurs when contacts are subjected to vibration as they
might be in an aircraft, an automobile, or a machine environment. This
material prevents oxidation or sulfurization by filling the interstices between
the contacts with liquid lubricant which then blocks the ingress of gasses
which carry the corrosive elements to the contact materials. I would recommend
it for use on those microphone element connectors and for PWB conn
ectors if they are causing trouble as well.
The magic lubricant is "ILFC Ten-06 CON-TAC." It is made by International
Lubrication and Fuel Consultants, located in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The web
page for the lubricant is at http://www.ilfcinc.com/ilfc-ten-06/ . A very
small amount will go a long way - I'd probably use a Q-tip or an artist's
paint brush to apply a very thin coating on connector contact surfaces. If I
needed some I'd contact ILFC, they are a very small company, and explain what I
needed. they are pretty friendly, and they will probably find a way to get you
what you need.
Jim Hanlon, W8KGI
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